"EU expenditure for research and innovation should be significantly increased, with a focus on environmentally and socially relevant aspects” a report for the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets spending on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), has concluded. The report, published in October 2017, finds that research expenditure still accounts for a comparatively low share of overall expenditure, and only a small fraction actively promotes a socio-ecological transition.

According to the report, a fundamental overhaul of the MFF is required, regardless of the future EU integration scenario. EU expenditure should provide more European added value. Tax-based own resources partially replacing current own resources have the potential to reduce sustainability gaps within Member States’ tax regimes as well as to alleviate the juste retour problem.